Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a disease that can become serious and, in the worst case, even fatal
The mortality rate is extremely high at around 50%, and even if patients survive, they may suffer severe after-effects or have a high risk of rebleeding
You may also be interested in the details of stem cell therapy, a regenerative medicine treatment that has recently been attracting attention, and its effectiveness in treating subarachnoid hemorrhage
This article will focus on subarachnoid hemorrhage, and also explain stroke, stem cell treatment, causes, and prevention methods. Subarachnoid hemorrhage can be prevented by reviewing your lifestyle habits, so please take a look
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's 2021 vital statistics, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death among Japanese people
Aging and changes in lifestyle are believed to be contributing to the increase in strokes, which are the leading cause of bedriddenness, accounting for approximately 39% of cases
A stroke is a condition in which blood flow to the brain is reduced due to blockage or rupture of blood vessels, causing a malfunction in a part of the body
Strokes are broadly divided into three categories
● Cerebral infarction occurs when blood vessels in the brain become blocked
● Cerebral hemorrhage occurs when blood vessels in the brain burst
● Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs when a lump (aneurysm) in a blood vessel in the brain ruptures
Common symptoms of stroke include hemiplegia and loss of consciousness, but since the disease develops in different ways, we will explain each one below
Writing reference 1: https://www.google.com/search
table of contents
1-1. Cerebral infarction
A stroke is a condition in which the brain is damaged by a blockage in a blood vessel in the brain. Because blood flow to the brain is cut off, oxygen and energy are not supplied to brain cells, causing them to die
Cerebral infarction is broadly classified into three types
1. Lacunar infarction
This is a small infarction that occurs when a small blood vessel that branches off from a large blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked
②Atherothrombotic cerebral infarction
It occurs when atheromas (fatty masses) form inside large blood vessels in the brain, neck, and other areas
3. Cardiogenic cerebral embolism
It occurs when a blood clot formed in the heart travels to the blood vessels of the brain and blocks them
Writing reference ①: https://www.yokohama-shintoshi.jp/brain/nokosoku.html
1-2. Cerebral hemorrhage
Cerebral hemorrhage occurs when small blood vessels in the brain rupture and cause bleeding within the brain
The bleeding blood clots and forms a hematoma, which puts pressure on the brain. Eventually, the area around the hematoma swells and puts pressure on the brain, causing nausea, headache, loss of consciousness, and other symptoms. Subsequent symptoms vary depending on the location of the bleeding
Cerebral hemorrhages are broadly classified into five types
①Putamin hemorrhage
Symptoms include hemiplegia, numbness, and conjugate deviation, in which both eyes turn toward the paralyzed side
② Thalamic hemorrhage
Symptoms include decreased sensation and thalamic pain (pain in one side of the body)
③Pontine hemorrhage
The eyes may become fixed in the middle or may constrict
④Cerebellar hemorrhage
Symptoms include severe pain in the back of the head, dizziness, and difficulty walking
⑤Subcortical hemorrhage
Symptoms include subcortical hemorrhage in the parietal and frontal lobes, seizures, hemianopia, and aphasia
Writing reference ①: https://www.yokohama-shintoshi.jp/brain/noshukketsu.html
1-3. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a condition in which bleeding occurs in the space beneath the arachnoid mater, one of the membranes that covers the brain. The brain is covered from the outside by the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs when bleeding occurs in the space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater (the subarachnoid space)
Symptoms include sudden severe headache, loss of consciousness, vomiting, and dizziness. It can easily become severe, with 30% of cases dying or suffering from severe after-effects
prognosis
Also, caution is required as it is said that rebleeding is likely to occur within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms
Writing reference ①: https://soujinkai.or.jp/himawariNaiHifu/fatty-liver
2. What causes subarachnoid hemorrhage?
There are three main causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage:
Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm
● Bleeding from cerebral arteriovenous malformations
● Head injury
<Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm>
Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm accounts for 90% of subarachnoid hemorrhages
A cerebral aneurysm occurs when blood gets trapped in a thinned area in the wall of a cerebral artery, causing a bulge
<Bleeding from cerebral arteriovenous malformations>
This condition is congenital and occurs when blood leaks into an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins of the brain (the nidus). It is rare and is not hereditary
<Head injury>
It occurs when a strong external force is applied to the head, such as in an accident or fall
Writing reference ①: https://soujinkai.or.jp/himawariNaiHifu/fatty-liver
3. Regenerative medicine is expected to be effective in treating subarachnoid hemorrhage
It was previously thought that once brain cells were damaged, they could not be restored
Subarachnoid hemorrhage in particular can easily become severe, and even if the patient survives, they will be left with after-effects. However, stem cell therapy, a form of regenerative medicine, is expected to improve these after-effects
3-1. Regeneration and repair of blood vessels in the brain is expected
Stem cell therapy involves extracting adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from one's own fat cells, increasing the amount required, and transplanting them via intravenous drip
Since the patient's own cells are transplanted, there is no risk of rejection, making this a safe treatment. Subarachnoid hemorrhage in particular is a disease that has a high chance of recurrence if left untreated. Stem cell therapy is expected to have the effect of regenerating and repairing blood vessels
Stem cell therapy is attracting attention because normal functioning of blood vessels can prevent subarachnoid hemorrhage
Writing reference ①: https://neurotech.jp/saiseiiryou/subarachnoid-hemorrhage/
Writing reference ②: https://job-gear.jp/mikiyukai/sakamoto/service_d.htm
3-2. Recovery of brain function is expected
Subarachnoid hemorrhage causes various symptoms such as severe headache and loss of consciousness, because the brain loses its normal functions when a subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs
With stem cell therapy, stem cells and growth factors such as cytokines, which are proteins produced by stem cells, repair and improve damaged brain tissue
Repairing and improving brain tissue restores brain function, leading to the improvement of various symptoms such as headaches and loss of consciousness
Writing reference ①: https://neurotech.jp/saiseiiryou/subarachnoid-hemorrhage/
Writing reference ②: https://job-gear.jp/mikiyukai/sakamoto/service_d.htm
4. Cost of regenerative medicine for subarachnoid hemorrhage
The cost of stem cell therapy, a form of regenerative medicine, is by no means cheap
Stem cell therapy is rarely covered by insurance and is generally a self-paid treatment. The cost varies depending on the clinic and the symptoms of the subarachnoid hemorrhage, but it usually costs between 1 million and 4 million yen
Here we will pick out a few clinics and introduce the costs
Stem cell therapy is a private medical treatment, but is eligible for medical expense deductions
A clinic B clinic C clinic
Consultation/Counseling (1 session) 11,000 yen 11,000 yen 3,000 yen
Blood test (1 time) 11,000 yen 11,000 yen 11,000 yen
Stem cell infusion (1 time) 1,650,000 yen 1,460,000 yen 2,420,000 yen
Writing reference ①: https://neurotech.jp/saiseiiryou/subarachnoid-hemorrhage/
Writing reference ②: https://www.apoplexy.jp/apoplexy/cost/
5. Effective prevention methods for subarachnoid hemorrhage
Subarachnoid hemorrhage often becomes serious once it occurs, so prevention is important
Subarachnoid hemorrhage has been said to occur suddenly, but early symptoms such as blood pressure fluctuations and headaches have been confirmed. It often occurs after the age of 40, so prevention is especially important for middle-aged and older people
● Meals
Be careful not to consume too much salt, as it can lead to high blood pressure. Adjust your cholesterol and calorie intake to prevent arteriosclerosis and blood clots
● Smoking and alcohol consumption
Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption as they increase the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage
● Aerobic exercise
Aerobic exercise widens blood vessels and improves blood flow
Aim to exercise for at least 20 minutes a day
Writing reference ①: https://www.yokohama-shintoshi.jp/brain/nokosoku.html
6. Summary: Regenerative medicine is effective for subarachnoid hemorrhage
Until now, treatments for conditions such as subarachnoid hemorrhage have relied on replacing lost brain cells and tissues
For example, it is difficult to return to the original state through rehabilitation alone. However, regenerative medicine such as stem cell therapy is effective in improving after-effects because it regenerates and repairs blood vessels. In addition, because the patient's own cells are transplanted via intravenous infusion, there is a low probability of rejection, making it highly safe
If you are suffering from the aftereffects of subarachnoid hemorrhage, why not consider regenerative medicine?
Omotesando Helene Clinic specializes in regenerative medicine that does not place a burden on the body, and provides pre-counseling for those who cannot immediately start treatment.
Diabetes is also related to lifestyle habits such as obesity, excessive drinking and smoking, but it is generally said that it is difficult to improve lifestyle habits.
Therefore, if you use "regenerative medicine" that utilizes autologous stem cells, you can use your own cells to repair weakened cells in the body and prevent diabetes and complications.
"I'm curious, but I can't decide if prevention is really necessary now." You may be at risk of wandering life and death without realizing it, so Please feel free to contact us.
・Inquiry form (LINE, We Chat, email support):https://stemcells.jp/contact/
[Regenerative Medicine Outpatient] 03-3400-2277
Supervision: Dr. Yasushi Tsuda